Criminal Justice

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 794: NC Victims of Crime Assistance Act.

SB 794 establishes the North Carolina Victims of Crime Assistance Act to create a special fund and competitive grant program that provides financial support to organizations serving crime victims. The bill defines victims as individuals who suffer physical, sexual, financial, or emotional harm from a crime and allows grants of up to $1 million to public agencies or nonprofits that offer services such as emotional support, life stabilization, and assistance navigating the criminal justice system. Funding for these grants will come from state appropriations, existing state laws, and donations, with the Governor's Crime Commission responsible for administering the program and requiring grantees to submit detailed reports on how the funds are used and the number of victims assisted. Additionally, the bill increases criminal court costs for convicted defendants to help finance this new assistance fund.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates funding and grants to support organizations serving crime victims, directly strengthening victim services within the criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 1062: Immigration Cooperation Agreements.

This bill establishes strict conditions under which North Carolina law enforcement agencies can enter into agreements with federal immigration authorities, requiring that federal agents adhere to specific state laws and operational limits. Key provisions mandate that federal agents must be clearly identified, cannot conduct enforcement near schools or polling places, and generally cannot enter homes or use surveillance technology without a valid judicial warrant. Additionally, the legislation requires a judicial warrant for any federal immigration enforcement action within the state, with exceptions only for valid criminal warrants. To support local implementation, the bill also appropriates $40 million to counties for hiring additional law enforcement and corrections personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by restricting federal immigration enforcement powers and requiring warrants, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill limits state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, protecting immigrant rights and restricting federal agents' access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 984: Work Training/Delinquent Child Support.

This bill allows North Carolina courts to order individuals who are behind on child support payments to participate in job search activities or specific work training instead of facing jail time. Under the new rules, a person subject to this order must pay at least $50 per month in support, attend the program for no more than six months, and report their progress to the court every 30 days. The legislation also allocates $3 million in state funds to community colleges to help cover the costs of providing these training programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $3 million in state funds to community colleges for work training programs.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill offers work training and job search alternatives to jail time for delinquent child support, promoting rehabilitation and reducing incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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died · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 951: Critical Funds for North Mecklenburg.

This bill directs $34.88 million in state funds to three North Carolina entities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support emergency services, public safety, and affordable housing. The Town of Davidson receives $20.44 million to build a fire station, buy an emergency vehicle, and purchase police and breathing apparatus equipment. The Town of Cornelius is allocated $10 million for land acquisition for a future public safety facility, replacing a fire engine, improving pedestrian safety, and constructing a recreation center. Additionally, the Lake Norman Community Development Corporation gets $4 million to develop affordable housing in Cornelius, including specific funding for the Smithville community. These nonrecurring funds are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $34.88M in state funds to support emergency services, public safety, and affordable housing.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funds for emergency services, public safety, and law enforcement equipment, strengthening local criminal justice infrastructure.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates $10M for land acquisition to support affordable housing initiatives in North Mecklenburg.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Affordable Housing Community Development Property Development

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 5, 2026

HB 1191: Fostering Care in NC Act 2026.

HB 1191, titled the Fostering Care in NC Act 2026, introduces several changes to how North Carolina handles cases involving juveniles and child welfare. The bill increases privacy protections by sealing court records in abuse and neglect cases and clarifying who can access them. It also updates procedures for expunging names from the responsible individuals list and requires courts to schedule permanency planning hearings within 30 days. Additionally, the act mandates that siblings be placed together whenever possible and ensures counties communicate before transferring cases to improve coordination on care and financial support.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances privacy, expungement rights, and court efficiency for juveniles, aligning with criminal justice reform and civil rights protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Tags Children

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1132: Law Enforcement Officers Facial Coverings and Identifications.

This North Carolina bill prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing opaque facial coverings, such as balaclavas or tactical masks, while performing their duties, unless specific exceptions apply. The law allows for exceptions during active undercover operations, tactical situations requiring physical safety protection, and when protecting an officer's identity during prosecution, while also permitting religious head coverings and medical masks. To enforce this rule, agencies must create and publicly post written policies that prioritize transparency and limit the use of coverings to clearly defined circumstances. Additionally, the bill requires officers to clearly display their agency identification on uniforms and to identify themselves by name or badge number upon request. The legislation also includes a provision that removes certain legal protections for officers who commit specific torts, like assault or false imprisonment, while knowingly violating the facial covering ban.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by restricting opaque facial coverings, promoting transparency and public trust in law enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 937: Marijuana and Vapor Products Reform.

This bill modifies North Carolina's marijuana laws by removing criminal penalties for possessing five grams or less of the substance and updating the state's definition of hemp to align with federal standards. It simultaneously increases penalties for manufacturing and selling marijuana and raises the minimum age for purchasing tobacco, vapor, and consumable products. The legislation also imposes higher excise taxes on vapor products and marijuana, expands the jurisdiction of alcohol law enforcement agencies to include these new categories, and allocates funds for evidence storage and disposal. Additionally, it introduces administrative changes to the vapor products directory to improve regulatory oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes criminal penalties for minor marijuana possession, directly reducing criminalization and advancing criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 1070: Domestic Violence Divorce Reform Act.

This bill modifies North Carolina's divorce laws to allow victims of domestic violence to file for divorce without waiting the usual one-year separation period. To qualify for this expedited process, the applicant must provide proof of abuse through a domestic violence protection order, a criminal conviction against their spouse, or a judge's ruling based on evidence such as police records or medical documentation. Additionally, the legislation allocates $50,000 in state funds to a specific nonprofit organization to support victims of domestic violence. The changes apply to divorce cases filed after the law takes effect and do not impact cases already pending in court.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $50,000 in state funds to support domestic violence victims, directly funding a public service.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expedites divorce for domestic violence victims using criminal convictions and protection orders, directly supporting victim protection and criminal justice outcomes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Judges

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 1004: Family Support for Those Who Serve Act.

This bill expands tuition waivers at North Carolina community colleges to children of public safety workers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. It specifically allows children aged 17 to 24 to attend classes for free if their parent is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, or experienced correctional officer with at least 10 years of service. The legislation removes previous time limits on these waivers for community college students, ensuring they can attend for the full duration needed to complete their program. Eligible students must still meet standard admission requirements, and the changes will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides financial support and benefits to families of public safety workers, directly aiding those serving in the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands tuition waivers for community college students, directly increasing access to higher education and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands tuition waivers for children of injured public safety workers, enhancing benefits for this specific labor group.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Higher Education

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 791: Enhanced Penalty/Dom. Violence Strangulation.

This bill strengthens penalties for assault by strangulation in North Carolina, directly affecting individuals who commit such acts against others. It establishes new felony classifications, making strangulation causing physical injury a Class H G felony and general strangulation a Class H felony, while also clarifying the legal definition of strangulation as obstructing breathing or blood circulation. Additionally, the legislation allocates $3 million in state funds starting in 2026-2027 to run a public awareness campaign about these increased punishments. The changes will take effect on December 1, 2026, and will apply only to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens penalties for domestic violence strangulation and allocates funds for enforcement, directly advancing criminal justice protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

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